Device for checking horses.



A. G. BUTLER.

DEVICE FOR CHECKING HORSES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. X915.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH {IO-,WASHINOTON, D.

A. G. BUTLER.

DEVICE FOR CHECKlNG HORSES.

APPLICATION-FILED APR-3.1915.

1,155,403 Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

was.

TE flATS PATNT FFTQE.

A FRED s. nurrnaor VALLEY roan, WASHINGTON.

DEVICE non CHECKING HORSES.

riaaaos.

Application filed April 3, 1915.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED G. BUTLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Valley Ford, in the county of Spokane and State ofWashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devicesfor Checking Horses, ofwhich' the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to devices for checking horses, and with regard tocertain more specific features thereof: to devices adapted to be thrownin and out of operative position at will, either for hitching ahorse'while the vehicle is temporarily atrest, or for stopping runawayhorses.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a practicaland selfecontained device which :may be easily and quickly mounted uponany vehicle without material alterations.

A further object is to provide a device of the above character havingfew parts which will be cheap to manufacture and install A furtherobject is to provide a simple device of the above character which willbe reliable and efficient in use and operation at all times and notlikely to get out of order or wear out. V 1 1 Other objects will be inpart obvious from the annexed drawings and in part indicated "inconnection therewith by the following analysis of this invention. I I

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of parts and inthe unique relations of the members and inthe relative proportioning and dispositionthere'of, all as morecompletely outlined herein. a i i To enableothers skilled in the art sofully to comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embodythesame by the numerous modifications in structure and relationcontemplated by this invention,

In these drawings 5 designates a vehicle- Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

Serial No. 19,029.

having wheels ,6, to the rear right-hand one of which may, be attachedthe checking device 7.

A hand operating lever 8 is pivoted at 9 to the side of the vehicle,although a foot lever may be used if desired, and is pro- I vided with aguard 10 havingnotches 11 and 12 at the o-ppos'ite ends thereof intowhich the lever 8 may drop and be held against movement. The lower endof this lever 8 is pivotally connected at 13 with a rearwardlyextendingrod 1d adjustably connected at its opposite end with the device7. This device, as shownmore clearly in Fig. 2, comprises a plate15carrying a central tubular member 16, adapted to fit over the hub of thewheel on the inner side and closely adjacent spokes 17, thereof.Fastening means, such as loops 18, may be employed for firmly clampingthe plate 15, in position. This plate is provided with two pawls l9,fitting in sockets and spring pressed into operative position.

Closely fitting over the tubular member 16 is a winding drum 20 providedwith a groove 21, and around which a cord 22 may be wound, as. betweensuitable flanges 23. The 7 lower part of this member 20 is provided withratchet teeth 24 adapted to coact with the pawls 19 when moved intoengagement therewith under certain circumstances, as

will be hereinafter explained. Ball bearings 25 may beprovided at one orboth ends of this member 20, in order to permit a free relative rotaryand sliding movement between this member and the coacting parts, if sodesired.

About the member 20 is a second tubular member or casing 26 provided onits interior with flattened surfaces 27, spaced apart a distancesubstantially equal to the maximum diameter of the member 20; Thisconstruction permits a relative lateral movement of the part 26 withrespect to the part 20 on movement of the rod. 1 1.

Lugs 28 on the inner flattened surfaces 27 of the member 26 are designedto coact with the upper flange 23. in order to move the same in an axialdirection to carry the pawl and ratchet mechanism into and out ofengagement. This member 26 is adjustably connected with the rod 14 inany desired inlimner, as by means of set screws 29, or the A cap 30having a collar 31 is adapted to be screwed onto the upper threaded end32 of the member 16. The setscrews 33 passing through this collar 31 aredesigned to engage the inner edge of the hub, thereby to securely holdthe parts in position, whereby all but the member 26 will rotate withthe wheel. It will thus be seen that the parts are all 'inclosed in aself-contained de- The operation of this device is substanleier 8isthro'wn back to engage the notch 11, which causes a relative lateralmovement of the member 26 with respect to the member along under theaxis of the wheel and one of the lugs 28 coactswith the flange 23 tomove the same axially and carry the pawl and ratchet mechanism out ofengagement. The wheel is therefore permitted to rotate freely withrespect to the member 20, when in normal position without noise. If how-.ever the horses are running away, or it is desired to hitch'them whilethe vehicle is at rest, the lever 8 is thrown forward into the notch 12,causing a rearward movement of the rod 14, and the other lug 28 to coactwith the flange 23 and force the ratchet of the drum 20 into engagementwith the springactuated pawls 19, "thus firmly locking the drum to. theplate 15. A rotation of the latter withthe wheel will cause acorresponding rotationof the drum to wind up the cord 22, it of coursebeing understood that the free end ofthe cord 22 is attached afterpassing through suitable pulleys on the vehicle tothe bridle of thehorse. This winding of the cord'and pulling on the bridle will soon stopthe horse and cause a natural tendency of the horse to back. Thisimmediately relieves the pull but will not rewind the cord. Even 'if thehorse continues to back there will be no reverse winding of the cord asthe pawlsslip quietly over the ratchet. l/Vhen the horse is undercontrol the lever is moved to release position and the cord pulled outtoits normal position, the drum being free to unwind. under suchconditions. It is thus seen that the present invention provides a simpleand practical device adapted to accomplish, among others, all of theadvantages and objects above set forth. Without further analysis, theforegoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that otherscan by applying current knowledge I'ead ly adapt it"for variousapplications without omitting certain features that, V T from thestandpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristicsof 1 the generic or specific aspects of thisinvention,

' tially as follows: In normal operation the 15 and therefore suchadaptations should and ters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described in combination, a -memberadapted to fit 7 over the hub of one of the wheels of ahorse drawnvehicle and rotate therewith, awrndingdrum loosely mounted on saidmember,

a casing therefor, a flexible connection adapted to be wound on saiddrum having its free end connected with the bridle of the horse, a pawland ratchet mechanism for connecting said drum with said first 'menincombination, a cylindrical member adapt-' ed to fit over the hub ofone'o'f the wheels of a horse drawn vehicle and be clamped thereto torotate therewith, a winding drum fitting over said member andprovided-with a flange, a flexible member adapted to be i" wound on saiddrum and having itsfree end connected with the bridle of the horse, atubular sleeve loosely fitting over said winding drum, cams carried bysaid sleeve adapted to coact with the flange on said-drum for' movingthe same axially as said sleeve is moved laterally, and a pawl; andratchet mechanism between said drum and the'plate adapted to lock saidparts together.

3. In a device of the character described in combination,a cylindricalmember adapted to fit over the hub of one of the wheels of a horse drawnvehicle'and be clamped thereto to rotate therewith, a winding drumfitting over said member and provided with at":

end connected with the bridle of the horse,

flange, a flexible, 1nember adapted to be' -wound on said drum andhaving. its free winding drum, cams carried by said-sleeve adapted tocoact with" the flange on said drum for moving the same axially as saidsleeve is moved laterally, a pawl and ratchet mechanism between saiddrum and the plate adapted to lock said parts together, and

means operablefrom a point adjacent-the drivers seat adjustablyconnected with said sleeve for movlngthe same laterally; r

' g In testimony whereof I aflixmy s'ignature in presence of twowitnesses.

. ALFRED BUTLER.

Witnes'sesz v i r l,

' ANDREW C. SHAW,

A. T. HASTINGS.

. Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eacln'byaddressing th ef gommissionerofilatents, Washington, D. G.

